Director of Growth & Distribution – Personal Savings in London

Director of Growth & Distribution – Personal Savings in London

London Full-Time 43200 - 72000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead growth strategies and partnerships for OakNorth's Personal Savings business.
  • Company: Join OakNorth, a leader in empowering ambitious businesses in the UK.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible hybrid work, 25 days holiday, and a supportive team culture.
  • Other info: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovative solutions and achieve strategic goals.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on customer acquisition and distribution in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in growth or commercial roles within regulated environments.

The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board. At OakNorth, we're on a mission to empower the UK's most ambitious businesses. Since 2015, we've lent over $21bn across the UK and US, helped create more than 58,000 new homes and 36,000 jobs, and supported hundreds of thousands of personal savers - all while operating in one of the most highly regulated environments in financial services.

Our products sit at the intersection of innovation, customer outcomes, and regulatory scrutiny. Getting that balance right is non-negotiable.

The role involves owning and scaling customer acquisition and deposit distribution for OakNorth's Personal Savings business. This is a senior commercial leadership role with end-to-end accountability for:

  • Growing direct customer acquisition beyond rate-tables
  • Building and scaling introducer, affiliate and strategic brand partnerships
  • Expanding OakNorth's third-party distribution footprint as an underlying deposit-taking partner
  • Leading and developing growth marketing and partnerships teams
  • Working cross-functionally to ensure growth is capital‑efficient, compliant and aligned with treasury needs

You will report directly to the Chief Product Officer and will operate as a peer to Product and Engineering Directors, Operations Directors, and as a close partner to Finance and Treasury.

Role

Direct Growth Strategy & Execution

  • Own the direct customer growth strategy for Personal Savings, with clear targets for volume, cost of acquisition, and customer quality.
  • Diversify our acquisition by:
    • Identifying and launching new acquisition channels (e.g. paid search, affiliates, introducers, brand partnerships).
    • Building scalable referral and introducer models that deliver customers OakNorth can market to directly.
  • Work closely with Product and Engineering to:
    • Optimise conversion across acquisition journeys.
    • Improve onboarding, funding rates, and early‑life retention.
    • Establish clear performance management across channels, grounded in data, not vanity metrics.

Distribution & Partnerships

  • Map UK distribution landscape for retail deposits, and identify the best opportunities to expand OakNorth's portfolio of distribution partnerships.
  • Lead commercial negotiations, structuring partnerships that balance:
    • Volume and stability of deposits
    • Margin and pricing discipline
    • Operational and regulatory complexity
  • Own ongoing partner performance management, including growth, economics, risk and relationship health.

Leadership & Team Management

  • Lead and develop our growth/direct marketing specialists and our partnerships team.
  • Set clear objectives, accountability and development plans.
  • Build a culture that is commercial, data‑driven, and outcome‑focused rather than channel‑led.

Cross‑Functional Leadership

  • Work closely with:
    • Product & Engineering – to ensure acquisition and partner needs are built cleanly into product roadmaps.
    • Finance & Treasury – to align growth plans with funding requirements, balance sheet strategy and pricing constraints.
    • Operations, Risk and Compliance – to ensure the Personal Savings product is designed and operated in a robust, compliant, scalable and regulator‑ready manner in line with sound conduct risk.
  • Act as a senior leader within the Personal Savings unit, contributing to overall strategy, prioritisation and decision‑making.

What you'll bring

  • Senior leadership experience in growth, distribution or commercial roles within: Retail banking, fintech, savings/investments platforms, or adjacent regulated environments.
  • Excellent understanding of market dynamics and commercial structures of retail deposit taking in the UK.
  • A proven track record of:
    • Scaling customer acquisition beyond a single dominant channel.
    • Building and managing introducer, affiliate or platform partnerships.
    • Strong commercial judgement, including pricing, margin and volume trade‑offs.
  • Experience working closely with product and engineering teams in a highly iterative environment.
  • Confidence operating in regulated contexts, with an understanding of what cannot be compromised for growth.
  • The ability to operate at both strategic and hands‑on levels.

What Success Looks Like

  • A materially more diversified acquisition mix, with reduced dependency on any one channel.
  • Scalable introducer and affiliate partnerships delivering high‑quality, directly marketable customers.
  • A broader, higher‑impact distribution partner portfolio.
  • Clear visibility and control over acquisition economics.
  • Strong, credible partnerships with Product, Engineering, Operations, Finance and Treasury.
  • A high‑performing, commercially sharp growth and partnerships team.

What makes working here better

This is a truly hybrid role, offering the flexibility to work from home while also providing opportunities to collaborate in person with the team when it adds value. There's no fixed requirement for days in the office, instead, we focus on creating space for engineers & Product to engage meaningfully, whether that's in‑person for whiteboarding sessions or remote for deep focus work.

Work‑life balance – 25 days holiday (plus

Director of Growth & Distribution – Personal Savings in London employer: OakNorth

At OakNorth, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer by fostering a dynamic and supportive work culture that empowers our employees to thrive. As an Administrative & Property Support Associate, you'll be part of a small, ambitious team where your contributions directly impact the community and economy, while enjoying benefits like personalised perks, subsidised private medical insurance, and opportunities for professional growth. Join us in our London office to experience meaningful work from day one, alongside a vibrant atmosphere that encourages collaboration and innovation.

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Contact Details:

OakNorth Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Director of Growth & Distribution – Personal Savings in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or attend industry events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their mission, especially in growth and distribution strategies.

Tip Number 3

Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how you can drive customer acquisition and build partnerships effectively. Keep it concise and impactful to grab their attention.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.

We think you need these skills to ace Director of Growth & Distribution – Personal Savings in London

Customer Acquisition Strategy
Partnership Development
Commercial Negotiation
Growth Marketing
Data-Driven Decision Making
Regulatory Compliance
Team Leadership

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Director of Growth & Distribution role. Highlight your relevant experience in growth strategies and partnerships, and show us how you can bring value to OakNorth.

Showcase Your Achievements:We want to see your successes! Include specific examples of how you've scaled customer acquisition or built successful partnerships in your previous roles. Numbers and metrics can really make your application stand out.

Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who fits our culture, so don’t be afraid to show us who you are and what drives you in your career.

Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!

How to prepare for a job interview at OakNorth

Know Your Numbers

As a Director of Growth & Distribution, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of key metrics. Brush up on customer acquisition costs, conversion rates, and retention figures. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive growth in previous roles.

Showcase Your Partnerships Experience

This role involves building and managing partnerships, so come prepared with examples of successful collaborations. Highlight specific partnerships you've developed, the strategies you employed, and the outcomes achieved. This will show your ability to navigate complex commercial negotiations.

Understand Regulatory Contexts

Given the highly regulated nature of financial services, it's crucial to demonstrate your knowledge of compliance and risk management. Be prepared to discuss how you've balanced growth with regulatory requirements in past roles, showcasing your strategic thinking.

Be Ready for Cross-Functional Collaboration

You'll be working closely with various teams, including Product and Engineering. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully collaborated across departments in the past. Share examples of how you’ve aligned growth strategies with product development and operational needs.